Would you have survived in the middle ages?

Re:Would you have survived in the middle ages? by Bjoern on Monday May 11, 2009 @03:39AM (#603130)

Actually humanity is not really part anymore of the "survival of the fittest" or evolutionary cycle. We are actively changing ourselves and starting, in laboratories at least, to modify genetics. Won't take long before parents can "modify" their children to be smarter, healthier, etc.

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Re:Would you have survived in the middle ages? by habs on Monday May 11, 2009 @05:10AM (#603211)

I disagree. We are no more not part of the evolutionary cycle than we are not part of planetary climate change. (Pardon the double negative).

Evolution is no more than genetic drift within a population through reproduction and variation shaped by selective pressure. What you describe as gene therapy could be seen as a selective pressure. But there are many selective pressures on large populations of humans and these selective pressure vary from one set to another. I do agree that the dynamics of selective pressures has changed for humans thanks to modern medicine. But I contest it still applies.

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Re:Would you have survived in the middle ages? by xiaoma on Monday May 11, 2009 @10:45AM (#603533)

Natural selection may not do much anymore, but sexual selection is alive and well.

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